K'ntka nursing college orders Kashmiri students to shave beard

Bengaluru: A nursing college in Karnataka’s Holenarasipura ordered Kashmiri students to trim their beards, issuing a circular, and if they did not, they would not be allowed to enter college premises or attend classes. The college in Hassan district, namely the Government College Nursing, which is a part of Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences, issued guidelines for students, mandating that students trim or remain clean-shaven.

Following this, the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association wrote Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, describing the plight of the Jammu and Kashmir students in the institution, enrolled under the Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS).

The letter read, "Students who have beards are being marked absent during clinical duties, impacting their academic records and attendance.”

However, authorities of the nursing college affiliated with the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences in Bengaluru claimed that it did not target any specific group of students. The college administration said that clinical activity requires hygiene and that there are certain criteria for participation. The guidelines are for all students, including Kannadiga students.

However, the J&K students’ association’s intervention worked towards the college administration agreeing to allow students to keep their beards.

The director of Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences, Dr Rajanna B, told Asian News International that the issue has been resolved. He claimed that at the nursing college, there were 14 students from Jammu and Kashmir, and a few of them were not punctual, and there were complaints about their dress code. They had long beards, while the instructors had issued guidelines that mandated students to trim their beards or clean-shave. Following this, the students complained to the J&K Students Association, and the administration had discussions with the students. Later, the director said the administration agreed to allow beards.